Ascential Medical & Life Sciences takes pride in the exceptional talent within our team—professionals driving groundbreaking innovation in healthcare. Recently, Anh Nguyen, our Associate Director of Software Development, was featured in Mekka Magazine where she shared insights into her own career, the impact of engineering on advancing healthcare, and fostering diversity in the engineering field.
Anh’s work at Ascential exemplifies how engineering and diversity intersect to drive meaningful change. As the leader of Ascentialytics, a data-driven initiative that accelerates time to market and delivers actionable insights, she works alongside a talented and diverse team to develop transformative healthcare technologies. Anh’s contributions reflect Ascential’s mission to partner with medical device companies in tackling some of healthcare’s most critical challenges.
The Impact of Diversity in Engineering
Anh’s success is a great example of the impact diversity has on engineering innovation. Research from Boston Consulting Group reveals that organizations with above-average diversity scores achieve 19% higher innovation revenues compared to those with below-average diversity. In a field like engineering, where success hinges on solving complex problems, diverse teams have a distinct advantage. They bring fresh perspectives, spark creativity, and uncover breakthroughs that homogeneous teams might miss. This “cognitive diversity” is a driving force behind stronger, more dynamic solutions.
Despite these benefits, women represent only 13% of the engineering workforce in the United States. This underrepresentation not only narrows the potential talent pool but also perpetuates stereotypes and structural biases, limiting opportunities for meaningful change.
At Ascential, we are committed to bridging this gap. Initiatives like our Women in Manufacturing group foster supportive environments where women engineers can excel. These programs don’t just fuel individual career growth; they also strengthen collaboration, improve problem-solving, and enhance outcomes across the organization.
Fostering Inclusion and Creativity
Anh has dedicated herself to providing leadership and enabling inclusivity within engineering. She acknowledges the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field and credits support networks and initiatives, like Women in Manufacturing at Ascential, for helping shift engineering into a career choice that not only attracts women but fosters their success.
To young women aspiring to enter healthcare engineering, Anh emphasizes the importance of building a strong STEM foundation and seeking mentorship opportunities. She believes exposure to real-world challenges through internships and extracurricular activities can boost confidence and open pathways to meaningful contributions in engineering.
To learn more about Anh’s career journey, read the full interview in Mekka Magazine.